Yates Bleachery Company continues to be a hub of activity in the heart of Flintstone 92 years after the plant opened under the leadership of founder Arthur Edward Yates in 1920.
Yates Bleachery Company in Flintstone sits in a picturesque setting in Walker County.To keep up with current demands, management is looking to hire 10 more general production workers this year. Those interested are asked to apply in person and must pass a drug test. Shifts include 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3-11 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Starting pay is $9 to $10 per hour.
The 600,000-square-foot company operates as a finishing mill where workers man machines that bleach, dye and finish woven textiles. The fabric is sent to Yates from places like China, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. After finishing the cloth, the company ships it to other plants to be turned into draperies and clothing.
The plant already has a 150-member team of welders, construction workers, farmers, electricians and machinists working daily.
“There’s 150 spokes on the wheel of this company,” said operations manager Tim Harris, who started at Yates in 1990 for $4.50 an hour and worked his way up in the ranks over time. “It takes every single one to make this company work. Since we opened the doors in 1920 we’ve never had a layoff. To know that you won’t get laid off is huge.”